The late Eddie Van Halen was a hard rock virtuoso who also enjoyed designing his own instruments. Two of his guitars are now slated for auction.
In a sale that’s bound to pique the interest of many a guitarist, two custom-made instruments owned by the late legend, Eddie Van Halen, are heading for auction. The Eddie Van Halen guitar auction will be hosted by Julien’s as part of its Icons & Idols Trilogy: Rock ‘n’ Roll event.
Both guitars were partly designed and built by Van Halen, demonstrating that while the virtuoso took a unique approach to technique, he also applied creativity to the making of his gear.
The collection consists of a 2004 EVH Charvel Art Series electric, with a maple neck and a Strat-style headstock (pictured below left). The other guitar on offer was a collaborative effort between Van Halen and his guitar tech, Matt Bruck, complete with Kramer headstock and hardware (pictured below right).
Both axes are fitted with Floyd-Rose tremolo systems — perfect for those Van Halen-style dive bombs —and single humbuckers. No nuances here: these guitars are for shredding purists.
Both also share the same distinctively striped finish. A technique that Van Halen optimised on his Frankenstrat, it involves the use of tape and multiple layers of paint to create an abstract aesthetic — a Van Halen hallmark.
The auction event is taking place on December 4 and 5, with the guitars expected to fetch somewhere between $40,000 to $80,000 USD each. Visit Julien’s auctions for all the details.
